JC (NC) wrote:Deep purple and opaque. Dark fruits on nose and palate. Not flawed but doesn't excite me. Maybe I don't really relate to Cabernet Franc as a single variety or maybe this inexpensive wine is not a good representative of the grape.

Deep purple and opaque are not descriptors I would associate with really good versions of Cab Franc.

There are a number of producers mentioned in this thread who do some really nice things with CF, wouldn't be a bad idea to search some of them out to get a sense of what can be done with the grape in really good hands.

Coteaux du Layon Beaulieu “L’Anclaie” 1996 – Chateau Pierre-Bise, Papin-Chevalier – alc.13%, made from Chenin, was deliciously opulent with lively acid balance, minerals and aromas of white fruit (a lot of apricot) and seemingly of botrytis (not frequent in the Loire basin so can someone confirm its presence or not in 96?). It was adequate with goat cheese (too sweet), better with Roquefort (but not celestial like some claims) and excellent after the light but piquantly fruity dessert which brought out its acidity and, for me, improved the balance even more; 16.5/20.

Rahsaan, I think that you are right about botrytis being more frequent in Layon than in Vouvray. If I remember well, the 1996 autumn in France was in general characterised by bright sunlight and North winds which concentrated the grapes and dried out rot; but it may have been different in Layon and I think that they had good botrytis in Sauternes.

The remainder of the Anclaie was even better tonight seeming livelier, better integrated and longer; 17/20+. Either the overnight stay in the fridge was beneficial or my attempts to match with cheese diminished the wine (or a bit of both).

Tim York wrote:Rahsaan, I think that you are right about botrytis being more frequent in Layon than in Vouvray..

And I believe the vineyards are the Layon are closer to the river and get more fog than in Vouvray. Or at least during my visit I was told something along these lines about the Layon climate specificities.